What is with network TV lately??

[Alex]

No, the slow abandonment of the "season" has been gong on for about a decade and has picked up a lot of speed in recent years. DVR, TV on DVD, encroachment by cable into the original programming market have all played a role.

Originally, cable networks would counter program by doing their new shows over the summer and now that is pretty common and success with it has prompted the broadcast networks to try it. The current fad for heavily serialized dramas has meant that you have to keep feeding the audience a steady stream of new since reruns have little rewatchability and once someone wanders off a strong arc means they don't come back because they'll feel like their behind. So you get half seasons with long breaks in between or things like 24 where you start the season late so that you can run 24 consecutive weeks without a rerun.

Also, with improvements in continuous measurement of ratings, advertisers aren't so eager to lock in year round rates based on the individual months of programming where networks pull every stunt they can to boost ratings.